The old Obama returns

Aided by a lapdog media, a feckless and fractured opposition, Obama not even waiting for his inauguration has advanced his redistributionist agenda. As Dr. K. writes, he was stymied a bit since 2010 after losing the House and having to secure his re-election but now that he no longer has to worry about pesky things like voter accountability, it is full steam ahead.

by Charles Krauthammer

The rout was complete, the retreat disorderly. President Obama got his tax hikes — naked of spending cuts — passed by the ostensibly Republican House of Representatives. After which, you might expect him to pivot to his self-proclaimed “principle” of fiscal “balance” by taking the lead on reducing spending. “Why,” asked The Post on the eve of the final fiscal-cliff agreement, “is the nation’s leader not embracing and then explaining the balanced reforms the nation needs?”

Because he has no interest in them. He’s a visionary, not an accountant. Sure, he’ll pretend to care about deficits, especially while running for reelection. But now that he’s past the post, he’s free to be himself — a committed big-government social democrat.

As he showed in his two speeches this week. After perfunctory nods to debt and spending reduction, he waxed enthusiastic about continued “investments” — i.e., spending — on education, research, roads and bridges, green energy, etc.

Having promised more government, he then promised more taxes — on “millionaires” and “companies with a lot of lobbyists,” of course. It was a bold affirmation of pre-Clintonian tax-and-spend liberalism.

Why not? He had just won Round 1: raising rates. Round 2 is to raise yet more tax revenue by eliminating deductions. After all, didn’t John Boehner offer him $800 billion of such loophole-closing revenue just a few weeks ago?

To paraphrase Churchill on the British Empire, Barack Obama did not become president of the United States to preside over the liquidation of the welfare state. On the contrary, he is dedicated to its expansion. [……]

But this level of spending requires a significantly higher level of taxation. Hence his hardball fiscal-cliff strategy of issuing an ultimatum to Republicans to raise tax rates — or be blamed for a massive across-the-board tax increase and a subsequent recession.

I’ll get you the money by eliminating deductions, offered Boehner. No, sir, replied the president. Rates it must be.

[…….]

(1) Partisan Advantage

As I wrote last month, the ultimatum was designed to exploit and exacerbate internal Republican divisions. It worked perfectly. Boehner’s attempted finesse (Plan B), which would have raised rates but only for those making more than $1 million, collapsed amid an open rebellion from a good quarter of the Republican caucus.

At which point, power passed from the House to the Senate, where a deal was brokered. […….] Checkmate. Obama neutralized the one body that had stymied him during the past two years.

(2) Ideological Breakthrough

Obama’s ultimate ambition is to break the nation’s 30-year thrall of low taxes — so powerful that those who defied the Reaganite norm paid heavily for it. Walter Mondale’s acceptance speech at the 1984 Democratic convention, promising to raise taxes, ended his campaign before it began. President George H.W. Bush’s no-new-taxes reversal cost him a second term.

[…….] He not only got his tax increase passed. He did it with public opinion behind him.

Why are higher taxes so important to him?

First, as a means: A high-tax economy is liberalism’s only hope for sustaining and enlarging the entitlement state. It provides the funds for enlightened adventures in everything from algae to Obamacare.

Second, as an end in itself. Fundamentally, Obama is a leveler. The community organizer seeks, above all, to reverse the growing inequality that he dates and attributes to ruthless Reaganism. Now, however, clothed in the immense powers of the presidency, he can actually engage in unadorned redistributionism. As in Tuesday night’s $620 billion wealth transfer.

Upon losing the House in 2010, the leveler took cover for the next two years. He wasn’t going to advance his real agenda through the Republican House anyway, and he needed to win reelection.

Now he’s won. The old Obama is back. He must not be underestimated. He has deftly leveraged his class-war-themed election victory (a) to secure a source of funding (albeit still small) for the bloated welfare state, (b) to carry out an admirably candid bit of income redistribution and (c) to fracture the one remaining institutional obstacle to the rest of his ideological agenda.

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We're not easily offended and don't want people to think they have to walk on eggshells around here (like at another place that shall remain nameless) but of course, there is a limit to everything.

Not sure if I agree with the premise. Citizens were behind higher rates, but only for “rich” people. They don’t want their rates to go up. Populism worked this time, but support for higher rates, either directly or by reducing deductions across the board does not have broad support.

I always said Obama would be a formidible adversary. He is the enemy of the United States. Hi s goal is our destruction. He seeks to do this first by spending far beyond our means to pay and secondly by quashing the economy. Raising taxes will effectively kill any nacent recovery. That is why he is so insistant on raising them.

I always said Obama would be a formidible adversary. He is the enemy of the United States. Hi s goal is our destruction. He seeks to do this first by spending far beyond our means to pay and secondly by quashing the economy. Raising taxes will effectively kill any nacent recovery. That is why he is so insistant on raising them.

here it is…even the donk voters have to see this blatant deceit…
well, maybe not

They can’t feed themselves. I am waiting for the mo-bro-hoods to follow in the footsteps of the Taliban and start destroying the pyramids and other archaeological sites, thus destroying any lingering tourism. Who would want the place, so who would attack? My thought is they are for use against Israel or their own people.

@ Iron Fist:
I always said Obama would be a formidible adversary
Aint that the truth!

And the power of the press. Even if you listen to conservative radio, for instance, your top of the hour news is always from one of those head up their ass agencies like ABC. No one, for instance, has pointed out that the income rich are the ones that got hit — Obama’s donors, like Buffett, the ASSET rich, were barely touched.

However, the middle class is about to find out just what this all means when they open their first paycheck of 2013 on January 15th and see that the payroll tax holiday is over and there are higher Medicare taxes and Obamacare taxes.

Happy New Year to all, by the way – it’s been the week from hell here at work and I haven’t even had the chance for a wave-by!

heysoos wrote:
I did…was not sure what to make of it except empty stroking
These kooks believe their own PR. I am sure they believe that everyone would be better off under islam. Even the descendants of apes and pigs //// as dhimmis.
heysoos wrote:
what does Egypt do with state of the art armor?…invade Libya?
They can’t feed themselves. I am waiting for the mo-bro-hoods to follow in the footsteps of the Taliban and start destroying the pyramids and other archaeological sites, thus destroying any lingering tourism. Who would want the place, so who would attack? My thought is they are for use against Israel or their own people.

there is Libyan oil not that far across the border…they could snatch that…it’s doable

the payroll tax holiday is over and there are higher Medicare taxes and Obamacare taxes.

A young mother called into Rush’s pgm today. They’re from Odessa Missouri and have 2 sets of twins, the older pair is only 3.

She was in tears. With the children, she has to stay home so they’re a single paycheck household. With the increase in SS taxes and healthcare deductions, they’re out $300/mo. They have to file Chap 7.

It is like the op-ed where Susan Estrich was whining that her taxes were going up. She voted for Obama, and Obama ran saying he was going to raise taxes. What did people expect? The Republicans to save them? If they wanted that, they’d have voted Republican.

@ heysoos:
Well obviously she knows what is good for us losers so if we can’t figure it out, she will do it for us.
And they can raise the debt ceiling all they want. The market that they hate will deceide what that limit will be.

However, the middle class is about to find out just what this all means when they open their first paycheck of 2013 on January 15th and see that the payroll tax holiday is over and there are higher Medicare taxes and Obamacare taxes.

I already got my first paycheck today and it is $35 lighter then the last check I got in 2012.

@ eaglesoars:
It is like the op-ed where Susan Estrich was whining that her taxes were going up. She voted for Obama, and Obama ran saying he was going to raise taxes. What did people expect? The Republicans to save them? If they wanted that, they’d have voted Republican.

That’s what Rich Leftists do. They vote Democrat to feel better but hope Republican stop the Dems. That’s why I shed no tear for rich.

AZfederalist wrote:
Citizens were behind higher rates, but only for “rich” people. They don’t want their rates to go up.
heh. As many of us here predicted, the Obamabots are getting their first paychecks and howling in their WTF? pain.
Folks who don’t love higher taxes to pay for higher government spending are getting a kick out of this Democratic Underground thread that begins by asking:
What happened that my SS withholdings in my paycheck just went up?
My paycheck just went down by an amount that I don’t feel comfortable with. I guarantee this decrease will hurt me more than the increase in income taxes will hurt those making over $400,000.
Among the comments are:
I really can’t handle the decrease right now. It’s not like I am rolling in the money. Really felt like my taxes went up when I opened my paycheck and it was smaller.
Paycheck was smaller? Why, it’s almost like everyone’s taxes went up and the media forgot to mention it, so busy were they with political horserace coverage.
How Do You Like Your Smaller Paycheck?

I read that just a bit ago – abso-flogging-lutely hilareous.

Elections have consequences, folks, just like not paying attention does. Morons.

On the other, I love it when an enemy shoots themselves in the foot. I will never ever visit egypt. I am happy to satisfy my curiosity in egyptian ancient history with the many many documentaries aired on cable. If they want to destroy the biggest and perhaps the only reason tourists would visit in the name of their barbarous religion, I could almost cheer them so I can enjoy watching the consequences.

I am waiting for the mo-bro-hoods to follow in the footsteps of the Taliban and start destroying the pyramids and other archaeological sites, thus destroying any lingering tourism.

They’re already making noises about doing that.

And their tourism industry is all but dead now. My bet is that they will try to grab the Libyan oil fields rather than pick a losing battle with Israel. Right now ‘talk’ is the only arrow in their quiver.

@ Rodan:
If we were smart, or should I say interested in inhibiting the advance of islam rather than aid it, we would enact a strategy to leverage sectarian and tribal animosities. Especially on border areas.

I had an interesting conversation with a client yesterday, as we scheduled our quarterly review, He has been a left of center voter for as long as I’ve known him. He expressed consternation with the fiscal cliff deal, and made it clear that he believed in the balanced approach nonsense being peddled by Obama during the campaign. Upset with the fact that the deal not only failed to address spending in any appreciable way, but actually managed to increase what is clearly out of control already, he demanded to know what I thought.

I told him, this is what you voted for, regardless of whether of not you realized it at the time. This is what Barack Obama wants. He never intended to address spending or in any way balance our budget. This is not some dolt I am talking about either, but a pretty sharp guy. Clearly, once again we have succeeded in getting a man elected with the electorate being almost entirely clueless as to what his intentions were.

New revenue has always been spent on new programs or used to expand current ones. It has never been used to reduce debt or deficits. Giving the Government more money to waste will always make things worse.

@ Flyovercountry:
Your client might be interested in Obama’s response to Boehner when he advised “we’ll give you $800 million in new revenue, what do we get (meaning re spending cuts)?”
Obama responded — “you get nothing.”

I still hold the belief that chances are excellent that BO will construct his own downfall…collectively these fools will try to grab too much and the shit will hit the fan…finicky voters will pounce and the slide will pick up steam….maybe wishful thinking, but audacity will get you exactly the opposite of what you reach for…sometimes

Oh he will – after people realize just how much all his handouts to the low information voter class are costing them. They are already seeing that they have less to live on. Prices are going up on the necessities and utilities. But Obama’s been re-elected and he frankly could care less. I’m sure he’ll be raising taxes on the Hollywood elite and the asset rich donor base soon enough – he could care less anymore if the country goes to pot or not.

HOWEVER….if in 2014 the House gets a veto-proof majority and the Senate goes back to the GOP, you may see him change his tune and dance, even though heaven knows the press will continue to protect him.

He no longer gives a crap. Sure, I’m sure he’d still love to remake the U.S. into a European socialist model, but frankly he’s never liked working and this job affords him endless rounds of golf, endless vacationing, and a media that still tries to portray him as some genius we can’t live without, all without him actually doing anything more than a one-man stage show and interviews every so often. {NB: I’m always amused by the “An Exclusive Interview with President Obama” herald every time he shows up on TV – Exclusive? Puleeze – he’s more a regular on TV than the guys on the Big Bang Theory).

In fact, I’m sure he doesn’t give two beans if the Democrats never get another President in office – he’ll be alienating their donors (the “asset rich”) next. Oh, and don’t worry – “rich will be redefined as $100,000 before the end of next year! He’s got his money, his guaranteed health care and “salary” for life, his Secret Service protection and a $20 million estate waiting for him in Hawaii when he leaves.

Like all Marxist elites, he believes that he is above the rules he demands for the middle class.

this is how I make potato soup…it’s so easy
slice and dice a bunch of potatoes and boil them…toss the water
next I add a lot milk and a pint of half and half, onions, celery, carrots, salt, pepper and celery salt…keep up the heat, but don’t let it burn…add at least one bar of butter (not margarine)and maybe a touch of hickory flavored spice…keep stirring, do not let it burn, so keep the heat low…lastly add in some ham or smoked sausage….keep stirring, then if you need some thickener, add some cheap potato flakes….keep stirring, fuss with it to get it just right and people will line up for your autograph and kiss your butt on Main street…and if you call my office with a donation, I’ll show you how to make prize winning chili

no problem Carolina Girl – I’m on every Saturday night at that time and yep, take callers. If you want to catch tomorrow night’s show later, you can listen to Urban in archives after the show date – just use the same link.

I checked with my lawyer and he advised that since it was not intentional, there would be no harm no foul. What was funny is that once the dust settled and he was “free and clear” so to speak, and he wanted to go to Lake Tahoe and get married I said “um….nah, I don’t wanna….”

@ Speranza:
I checked with my lawyer and he advised that since it was not intentional, there would be no harm no foul. What was funny is that once the dust settled and he was “free and clear” so to speak, and he wanted to go to Lake Tahoe and get married I said “um….nah, I don’t wanna….”

Obama’s plan to eliminate deductions is a farce. The cliff deal brought back exemption phaseouts and deduction phaseouts. The “rich” only get 20% of the value of their deductions and nothing for their personal exemptions. What’s left to eliminate?

Obama is lying when he talks about deductions only the rich get. There are no deductions that the rich are eligible for that the less rich are not.

this is how I make potato soup…it’s so easy
slice and dice a bunch of potatoes and boil them…toss the water
next I add a lot milk and a pint of half and half, onions, celery, carrots, salt, pepper and celery salt…keep up the heat, but don’t let it burn…add at least one bar of butter (not margarine)and maybe a touch of hickory flavored spice…keep stirring, do not let it burn, so keep the heat low…lastly add in some ham or smoked sausage….keep stirring, then if you need some thickener, add some cheap potato flakes….keep stirring, fuss with it to get it just right and people will line up for your autograph and kiss your butt on Main street…and if you call my office with a donation, I’ll show you how to make prize winning chili